CBI Raids 89 Locations in 20 States in Digital Arrest Crackdown, Arrests 3 Alleged Money-Movers

New Delhi, September 4, 2026: The Central Bureau of Investigation has widened its crackdown on “digital arrest” fraud networks, carrying out coordinated searches at 89 locations across 20 States and arresting three people allegedly linked to the movement of cybercrime proceeds. The action, taken on Friday under Operation Chakra-VI, is tied to three high-value cases in which victims together lost ₹42.36 crore.

The agency said the searches were launched after a detailed financial and technical examination of the cases, including scrutiny of bank transactions and online account-access data. The three matters had initially been registered by State police forces before being transferred to the CBI for further investigation.

Three cases, combined losses of ₹42.36 crore

The CBI’s investigation centres on three cases in which victims were allegedly kept under prolonged “digital arrest” by fraudsters posing as law enforcement officials. In this form of scam, victims are typically subjected to sustained pressure through phone or video calls, told that they are linked to serious criminal activity and warned against contacting family members or authorities.

One of the cases is linked to BITS Pilani, where a victim was allegedly kept under digital arrest for nearly three months and cheated of ₹7.67 crore. Investigators say the fraudsters impersonated police officers and maintained continuous psychological pressure while demanding money.

In a second case, a resident of Gujarat was allegedly held under similar pressure for about three months and defrauded of ₹19.24 crore. The third case, registered in Karnataka, involves a victim who was allegedly coerced for around a month and made to transfer ₹15.45 crore.

Across the three cases, the alleged losses add up to ₹42.36 crore. The fraudsters, according to the source material, demanded transfers under various pretexts, including bank account verification, bail, security deposits and checks on supposedly illegal assets.

Three arrests in money trail investigation

Following the searches, the CBI arrested three people after investigators said they had established their roles in receiving and moving the proceeds of crime. CBI spokesperson Beena Yadav said examination of the accused had revealed their “specific and material role in receiving, layering and dispersing the fraud proceeds.”

One of the accused, identified as Akash, a resident of Haryana, allegedly received ₹1.95 crore in a bank account opened by him. Investigators said the amount was transferred to other accounts on the same day.

Another accused, Raja Karmakar of Kolkata, allegedly received ₹1.5 crore in the bank account of his firm. The third accused, Jyoti Rani, allegedly received part of the fraud proceeds in her account, withdrew some of it in cash and transferred the remaining amount to other bank accounts, which investigators believe was done to obscure the financial trail.

The arrests were made in Haryana and Kolkata. The CBI has indicated that the three accused were allegedly part of the money-movement infrastructure supporting the fraud rather than necessarily the callers who first contacted and threatened the victims.

Documents, devices and banking records seized

During the searches across the 20 States, CBI teams recovered banking documents, account-related records, digital devices and other material considered relevant to the probe. These items are now being examined forensically as investigators attempt to reconstruct how the stolen money moved through the network.

The agency is also looking at the technological infrastructure used by the fraudsters and trying to identify more people involved in the syndicates, including account handlers and other beneficiaries.

Part of Operation Chakra-VI

Friday’s action is part of Operation Chakra-VI, the CBI’s continuing campaign against organised cyber-enabled financial crime. The scale of the operation, with searches spread across 89 locations in 20 States, suggests the agency views digital arrest fraud as a networked crime involving multiple jurisdictions rather than a series of isolated scams.

The Supreme Court has also taken note of the rising number of digital arrest scams and has called for concerted action against the perpetrators as well as the networks that enable such crimes. The court’s focus, as noted in the source material, includes investigation, prevention, improved grievance redressal and efforts to restore money to victims.

The CBI said further investigation in all three cases is continuing, with efforts under way to trace the remaining proceeds of crime and identify and apprehend other members of the alleged syndicates.